Training seems to be going well. I think i’m over the worst of my corona, still a bit sniffly but more of an annoyance than anything.
This is what my remaining TR plan looks like. Just going to trust in the process that it’ll leave me where i need to be for the event, seems to have worked so far! Providing it’s not absolutely peeing down on Sunday, i’m gonna get out and do one final bigish ride.
And yes @Top-Cat , I don’t trust event feed stops, so i’ll be cramming all my food, gels etc into my pockets/strapping them to the bike if needed. Will just be using the stops for water and then SIS tabs for salts etc
Training going well. Still a big week this week and then slowly turnings things down a bit. Heat might be an issue and I’m glad we’re finally getting some hot weather over here, going to be above 30c this weekend. Hopefully getting me a tiny bit heat acclimated.
In terms of fuel I’ll take everything I need with me. Just need water to get through the day.
Last weekend I did a relatively big trainingsweekend with the 3 Ballons mediofondo on the final day. 3 days 300km 6000m elevation. Lots of climbing at high sweetspot. I specifically went harder then I expect to go on the climbs during the Marmotte to see how that went and that went fine. But still at Marmotte I will aim for 20-30W less, especially on the first climbs.
This week is pretty busy and stressful at work so less time to train, so is a little disjointed.
I’ve been training between 11-14hrs the last few months.
This week will probably be 12hrs or so: 3 Z2 rides, 1 Tempo/SS ride and 1 VO2max ride.
Next week looking at 10hrs: 3 Z2 rides, 1 FTP test (20min), 1 Sweetspot
The week of the Marmotte I will be on location from monday and will do 7-8hrs: 3 climbing rides (Tu, We, Th) and recovery spin (Fr), rest day on Saturday.
The fact that I did the 3Ballons last weekend, and that went really well, took away a lot of stress and anxiety about riding such an event. Was a good way to test a lot of things, like getting up early, fuelling, pre-race stress management, pacing, riding in such a large group of hundreds of cyclists.
I’m now excited for Marmotte, and no longer scared ::
@Derailleur well done at 3ballons (I did the long version). Too bad to hear from your crash and your bike :(.
For every one that questions his pacing strategy and never did the marmotte before again my golden tip: Don’t start to hard!!! On the Glandon when you sometimes have to say to yourself: ‘how easy boy’, than you are riding at good pace. The combination Telegraph/Galibier is very hard, it is almost one long climb (telegraph downhill is almost nothing). And also the last 5k on Galibier it could be possible that due to altitude you cannot push the same watts.
You don’t make the difference for a good time on the Glandon or Telegraph but on the second part of the Galibier and mostly on the Alpe. If you ran out of fuel on the Alpe, it could be a real struggle and you will loose LOTS of time. You don’t have that for example in the Maratona.
And…eat/drink eat/drink, from the beginning…Hopefully it is not as warm as last year. The Alpe is a sunny climb and around that time of the day it can be really hot.
That’s been my experience also. I typically go well the first or second weekend into a block of training when the legs are accustomed to the intensity and holding some fatigue.
A little worried to follow the plan as generally the 4th weekend or rest week I feel awful.
The 2022 edition definitely did not lack water points at various points of the climbs (very efficient with multi taps). I was using 2 750ml bottles and had no issue (although I didn’t pee so the 8L or so I drank might not have been enough, but it was also extremely hot). I was carrying all my gels so didn’t pay much attention to the carbs offered.
That was also my issue, never know what to get at those feeding stops so carried all gells, bananas, food in my backpocket. But since a few months I am in the DIY stuff (and tested it with succes in 3 ballons).
Had 750ml with 110gr carbs and 1L 220gr carbs at the start. And halfway just get water at the stops. Then I can start using my 250ml flacon with 240gr carbs for the remainder.
In my backpocket just had that flacon, 2 small magnesium gells and 1 cafeïne gel and 3 small sugar fruits of 25gr.
I have the luxury that the organisation I booked my accomodation though and that arranged my entry ticket also provide ‘private’ feed stop at the top of each climb, so I get to prepare my own musette with gels and water bottles that will be ready at each climb. So I can carry lighter and also drop or get of additional clothing.
Last year (again, very hot, a local who’s a pro athlete said never seen as many people with heatstroke) I bought a wind jacket (because I was staying in AH itself, and feared how cold it’d get in the morning in the descents). I gave it to one of the supporters on the road after the telegraphe (as didn’t even use it on that descent).
Very hot indeed last year. I was also on top of ADH and when you go downhill for the start at 6.15 AM and you don’t feel cold…you know it’s gonna be a very hot day. I knew I had the form and legs for a PR but it was damn to hot. On a given moment on the Alpe I switched the button and said to myself, ok, don’t push it, it has to be safe. So I stopped a few times to refresh myself with water at some points. Don’t wanted to get overheated.
Good luck to everyone, I’m Jealous. I rode half of it last year on my honeymoon in July and the heat can’t be overstated. I recommend checking out this YouTube channel for any first timers. It was helpful to me when I was planning my rides last year.
I’m seriously considering wearing a mask in the airport/plane however i’m not sure if it’ll make any difference. I’m a bit nervous of catching the ol’ rona again or a cold ,don’t want it to ruin years of training
I’m lucky not to have to go by plane but I’m also slightly paranoid these days.
However, considering you just had it, you are probably safe now, won’t you?
So, you can wear one just to be sure. It would probably reduce the risk a bit. Or you could not and catch something and regret not doing it. For some extra safety I would just wear one. Even if it’s just for some peace of mind.
